Everybody has heard about Spain one way or the other. The country is famous as one of the best travel destinations, with beautiful beaches and excellent food. In addition, you have definitely heard of many Spanish football teams, like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, which are considered some of the best in the world.
But you might not have heard of the solid esports scene that has been developing in the country over the last few years. Multiple famous players and teams have their origins in this European nation.
With such a strong presence in the gaming world, it is only natural that esports betting has become a part of the culture of many Spanish people. This article will explore everything there is to know about esports betting in Spain.
Full List Of The Best Spanish Esports Betting Sites
It is very difficult to legally operate an esports gambling site in Spain, which explains why many companies won’t put effort into acquiring a license issued by the Spanish authorities. As a result, it can be challenging to find esports betting sites that can offer you adequate services.
On a positive note, many more experienced and famous sports betting sites like William Hill, Bet365, and Marathonbet are fully licensed to operate in Spain and offer many esports betting options. Even though they are not dedicated to video games, you can still get a complete betting experience. Moreover, many websites are starting to follow the example of Pinnacle by creating dedicated sections for esports to cover the bettors’ needs.
Online Esports Betting In Spain
According to recent studies, more than 49% of the Spanish population has been exposed to esports, and more than 80% participate in gambling. With a population of approximately 47.3 million, it becomes clear that Spain’s esports betting scene shouldn’t be underestimated.
Online betting sites in Spain had revenue of $350m in 2021, and the number is constantly growing. There are no exact numbers for esports betting specifically, but if the increase of esports bettors is a global trend, then it’s also happening in Spain.
And there are stats to back those claims up. Since the regulation of online gambling in 2011, more and more esports betting sites are looking at Spain as their next possible market.
The Most Popular Esports In Spain
Spanish people love their esports, but they prefer some over others, namely Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Rocket League, which are the three most popular esports in Spain by a significant margin. Millions of fans follow these esport titles, and multiple famous teams have achieved great success in international competitions.
But many more games have a significant fanbase in Spain, like FIFA, Call of Duty, Hearthstone, Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Apex Legends, and Fortnite. You would expect a country that is so much into football would be all over FIFA, but in reality, the top three games blow FIFA out of the water. Not to claim that FIFA is not important, but CS:GO and LoL tournaments have a much bigger global outreach.
One of the most famous esports organizations in the world is G2 Esports, co-founded by the legendary League of Legends player Carlos “ocelote” Rodríguez Santiagos was originally a Spanish team that quickly evolved into an international esports organization.
Another Spanish organization that has rocked the world is the well-known MAD Lions. They have a long history of being involved in many esports with exceptional performances in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends. Unfortunately, its CS:GO squad disbanded, but the LoL division keeps going strong.
There is a lot of esports talent in Spain, but unfortunately not enough teams to host it. Marc “Marc_by_8” Domingo is a famous Rocket League player that dominated international competitions throughout 2020 and 2021 as part of a Swiss esports organization named Team BDS.
Anyone familiar with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Valorant probably has heard the name Mixwell. Oscar “mixwell” Cañellas Colocho is one of Spain’s most accomplished esports players, who started his career in CS:GO before switching to Valorant. Since then, he has had some close calls with 1st place in various tournaments.
Evidently, Spain has no shortage of talented players, and many young talents are getting inspired by their compatriots to pursue their dreams of becoming professional esports players.
Is It Legal To Bet On Esports In Spain?
Yes, it is 100% legal to bet on esports in Spain, and Spanish bettors do not have anything to worry about when enjoying their favorite games and placing esports bets. This doesn’t mean that it is easy for online bookmakers to offer esports betting in Spain, but quite the contrary.
The good news is that according to the Spanish Act No. 13/2011, online betting is permitted in Spain. But unfortunately, this is where the good news ends because any online bookmaker that wants to offer its service in Spain has to acquire a special gambling license to operate legally. The regulations are very strict, and the company has to meet many requirements before obtaining the license.
Meeting license requirements is not the biggest obstacle online sportsbooks must overcome before offering their services in Spain. The real problem comes from the frequency with which these licenses are being handed out.
Since 2011, there have been three calls from the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), allowing interested operators to file the corresponding license applications. The first was in November 2011, the second in October 2014, and the third in December 2017.
Due to the difficulty of obtaining a license to operate in Spain, many companies decide not to go through the effort of joining the Spanish market, especially newer online sports betting sites that don’t have the financial resources to do so.
Future of Esports Betting In Spain
It might be hard to get a betting license in Spain, but this doesn’t mean that the future of esports betting is in trouble. On the contrary, even according to the most conservative studies, esports betting will continue to grow in popularity, and by 2027, the number of Spanish esports bettors will have doubled.
The main reason that esports betting is expected to grow is that the new generations have more gamers than ever. In Gen X (age 39-50), there were 66% of people self-described as gamers, while the numbers in the new generations can get as high as 97%. As these generations are starting to get an income they can spend on their leisure; esports is going to be at the center of their entertainment preferences.
How To Choose The Best Esports Betting Sites In Spain?
Now that you know what to expect from the esports betting scene in Spain, you should also learn how to choose the best betting sites. Because a few betting giants dominate Spain, you should be able to see beyond the hype around them and recognize all the signs of esports bookmakers.
All the best esports betting sites in Spain will have a betting license issued by the DGOJ. If you can access a bookie that this organization does not license, they are operating in Spain illegally, and you should stay away from unlicensed sports betting sites.
It doesn’t mean that it is necessarily trying to trick you, but if they are willing to break the law once, they might be willing to do so twice.
To choose the best esports bookmakers in Spain, you should look for a website with all the necessary features that make esports betting a pleasure. Live betting, live streaming, and multiple betting markets are some basic services that any good esports betting platform should have. If there are extra stats and information about the matches on top of an excellent betting market offer, then it’s a few extra points for the esports betting sites.
If you have found a betting site with all these features, the last thing you can check to ensure that it is a legitimate and trustable business is looking at online reviews about the website. If there is anything wrong with esports betting sites you are considering, you will hear about it quickly.
Remember that you will see negative reviews when looking at individual ratings. Don’t pay too much attention to them since even the best online betting sites have a ton of negative feedback. It’s the way the industry is.
Now you should be equipped with all the knowledge to recognize any subpar esports betting sites operating in Spain. Choose only the best ones and enjoy your esports the way they are meant to be enjoyed.
How To Sign Up At A Spanish Esports Betting Site
It might be hard for online gambling sites to start operating in Spain, but thankfully it is very easy for the Spanish bettor to create an account on any legitimate esports betting site. In just a few clicks, you can sign up on most betting platforms and start betting as soon as you have money on your balance.
To sign up on any online betting website, you have to complete the following steps.
- Go to the website and press the button on the top right.
- Follow the registration progress by providing your email, address, and any personal information requested.
- Add a promo code (if you have one).
- You are done!
In many countries, the registration process does not require you to provide information like ID number and address. Still, due to Spanish gambling regulations, any esports betting site has to make sure that you are over 18 before allowing you to create an account. The “know your customer” policy is strict to protect minors in Spain.
Payment Methods At Spanish Esports Betting Sites
When it is your time to place bets on esports, you will need some money in your account. Thankfully, gambling sites operating in Spain accept various payment methods, ensuring that you will find one that works perfectly for you.
The most popular payment methods are Spanish esports betting sites are bank transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Maestro), Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, Perfect Money, MuchBetter, Jeton Wallet, Paysafecard, Bank Transfer, and cryptocurrencies. But, of course, not all of these payment channels are equally popular.
Credit/debit cards are the method that Spanish people use the most when it comes to online gambling. It is pretty easy to make payments with a card in Spain, and pretty much any adult has at least one card they regularly use. Thanks to this, most deposits and withdrawals are made using debit/credit cards.
The best payment method is cryptocurrencies. They might not be as widespread as bank cards, but the speed and security with which the payments can be executed are unbeatable by any other method. Usually, the withdrawal limits for crypto are pretty high, and the fees are almost non-existent.
Mobile Esports Betting & Betting Apps In Spain
In Spain, any esports betting site that wants to become successful needs to facilitate betting on a mobile device. This can be done in two ways: through a mobile betting application or the website on a mobile browser. Both are viable but not equal.
A mobile betting application is a way to go if you want to bet on esports on your mobile phone. Usually, the apps offer a user-friendly interface, making it even easier to place bets from a mobile phone than through a computer browser.
Younger generations especially seem to prefer betting on their mobile phones since a phone is always accessible and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Notably, 63% of the visitors of Bet365, one of the biggest sportsbooks in Spain, were made by mobile users.
If a gambling website does not have a dedicated mobile application, you can still use it on your phone by a mobile browser. If the performance of the website is good or not depends on how optimized it is. The reality is that even the most highly optimized betting website doesn’t compare to a mobile betting application. Many bugs and issues can come up, and the navigation feels a bit clanky.
Spain Esports Live Betting & Live Streaming
Any veteran esports bettor can tell you that the live betting experience can get much more intense and enjoyable than pre-match betting. This is because when you place bets live, you must be aware of every aspect of the game, and the focus on details and the continuous tension that every new variable brings makes for an incredible betting experience.
Live betting in Spain is one of the biggest attractions for esports bettors, and almost all esports betting sites offer in-play betting markets. So especially for the most important matches, you might have more live betting options than you can process at the time.
If you are interested in esports betting, you will need to watch a live stream of the match while placing your bets. Most modern esports betting sites will offer a live stream of the game on the website, and since Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world, it is not hard to find esports betting sites with a live stream in the Spanish language. Unfortunately, not many people have this option, so you should take advantage of it.
How Popular Is Esports In Spain?
Although Spain is a fairly big country with more than 47 million inhabitants, the esports market is still comparatively small. Even though 49% of the population has been exposed to esports in some form, the ones that would describe themselves as esports enthusiast are approximately 3 million.
For a country of that size, 3 million represents only 8% of the population, and the same figures can be seen for professional esports players. There are a bit more than 2000 esports professionals in Spain who make a living from esports, which is lower than the average.
It is evident that there is a lot of room to grow still, but according to the studies, the numbers are expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. Pretty soon, watching esports will become a mainstream activity enjoyed by a big percentage of the country’s population.
Spain Overview
Spain is a modern country, with 91.4% of its inhabitants having access to the internet. In recent years, esports is becoming increasingly popular, with esports betting increasing simultaneously. Despite the strict regulations, many esports betting sites offer their services to esports bettors around the country.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends are the most famous esports, and many famous teams and players took their first steps in Spain. With a plethora of esports betting sites that can provide excellent services, esports betting in Spain is a real pleasure.
For a quick overview of Spain and its esports betting scene, you can take a look at the list below!
- The capital of Spain is Madrid, and some of the biggest cities in the country are Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga, Murcia, Palma (Majorca), and Las Palmas (Gran Canaria).
- Spain’s official and most popular language is Castellano, followed by Catalan.
- The official currency of Spain is the EURO, but Bitcoin is gaining popularity amongst esports bettors.
- The most popular payment methods for Spanish bettors are credit/debit cards, with Paypal and Google Pay being the second and third most popular.
- The most popular esports in Spain are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, Rocket League, and FIFA.
- Most popular esports players from Spain are Marc “Marc_by_8” Domingo (Rocket League), Oscar “mixwell” Cañellas Colocho (Valorant), Daniel “Goga” Romero (Rainbow Six Siege), Alfonso “Mithy” Aguirre Rodriguez (League of Legends), Ander “Neat” Tobal (FIFA).
- Spain’s most famous esports competitions are the Unity Cup, League of Legends Iberian Cup, and the Rainbow Six Siege R6 Spain Nationals.
- Spain has more than 2000 pro esports players.
- Spain hosted the LoL World Championship 2019 semi-finals.
- Gerard Piqué is co-owner of KOI – a Spanish esports organization.
Final Words
Esports betting is here to stay and is quickly shaping the gambling industry in multiple countries. Even though Spain is not the easiest country for online betting, many reliable and trustworthy websites can offer you a top-notch esports gambling experience.
All you have to do is find the sportsbook that suits your betting needs and create an account. After that, it is up to you to make the correct bets and enjoy your betting experience.
FAQ
What betting sites can you use in Spain?
You can use multiple esports betting sites in Spain, including William Hill, Galaxybet, and Marathonbet, which operate legally in the country. Although there is not as wide a variety as in other European countries (i.e. Germany), Spain is an excellent country for esports betting.
Does Bet365 work in Spain?
Yes, Bet365 works in Spain through the webpage bet365.es. It is the biggest sports betting site in Spain, with more than six million monthly visitors.
Can you use online betting in Spain?
Yes, online betting is allowed in Spain, although the market is heavily regulated. Any sportsbook that wants to offer services in Spain has to get a gambling license from the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).
Where can I bet on esports games?
You can bet on esports games on any gambling platform that is licensed to operate in Spain, like Betway and Unibet. Of course, not every sportsbook offers betting markets for every game, so make sure that the esports title you want is covered.
How do you bet on FIFA esports?
It is very easy to place a bet on FIFA esports. All you have to do is find the match you want to bet on, choose a betting market, and choose the stake. Then, click on the button on the bet slip, and your bet will be placed. Betting on esports is pretty much the same procedure as betting on any other sport.
